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2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

M. A. CHERRY.

STREET GAE EEEEEE.

Patented Jan. l, 1895 7% @www L@ @www1 me www Firms no mamans Mwwmon. n. c

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

M. A. CHERRY. STREET GAR Hmmmr No. 531,908. Patented Jan. l, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT STREET-CAR FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters P atent No. 531,908, dated January l, 1895.

Application 5165i October 3, 1894. Serial No. 524,828. (No model.)

To all whom, il? may concern.-

Be it known that I, MATTHEW A. CHERRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street-Car Fenders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings is arepresentation of the invention in perspective, with a portion of the edge guard and binding removed to better show the construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the fender applied. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Figl is a detaill perspective viewshowing the manner in which the under bearing roller is hung; and Fig. 5 is a sectional, detail view showing the fender construction.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in fenders for street cars and other vehicles propelled by steam, electricity, man power or other motive power except that of animals.

The object of the invention is to provide a fender which will afford an absolute safeguard against injury to a person struck by a moving car or vehicle, and which will possess all the other requirements necessary in such a device; fi. e., simplicity, strength, durability, yieldingness, and convenience of application and operation.

llfith this object in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination ot parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, the letter A designates an end or platform portion of a street car to which I have shown my invention as applied.

B, B, designate the main supports for the fender, one upon each side, and consisting each of a comparatively rigid bar of metal bent at its upper extremity to form a short horizontal, forwardly projecting arm b, and at its lower portion to form a longer forwardly projecting arm b'. These arms are made fast frame.

to the posts c of the car frame by means of clips C, or other suitable means.

D, D', designate the rigid frame of the fender proper, which is preferably made up of rods, and which has a vertical portion D, and a forwardly extending horizontal platform portion D. Said frame in the present instance is shown as made up of four vertical rods d, each lateral pair of which is connected at its upper ends by an arm d'; of a transverse rod d2; of lateral horizontal rods d3, and a forward transverse rod d4.

The rod cl2 is secured to the arms d3 by clamps d5 as indicated. The lower end portions of the two central rods are usually welded to said rod d2. Between these two central rods is an opening E provided with a gate E which is of semi-cylindrical form with its closed or convex side forward. Said gate consists of a rigid frame having a filling which is preferably of wire netting, and is hung by an upper pintle e which engages a bearing in a lug e of the fender trame, and a lower pintle e2 which is stepped in a bearing lug e3. The frame D,D, is also provided with a filling which I prefer shall be of wirework or netting of sufficient strength to support the weight of any live object which it is likely to receive.

The upper portion of the'fender is pivotally attached at each corner to the respective arms b of the supports B, B,by means of bolts and nuts f, which permit the fender a swinging movement thereon, and which can be readily removed should it be desired to detach the fender from the car.

The horizontal or platform portion of the fender is provided with a sliding connection with each of the arms b of the supports B,B, such connections being made in the following manner: The forward end portion of each arm b which terminates about midway of the platform D', is shaped to form a half-socket F (as best seen in Fig. l), designed to loosely engage a loop F on the lateral rod d3 of the A second piece F2 which is removably bolted to the arm b after the fender is in place, completes the socket. These connections permit the fender when it strikes an object to swing backwardly on the bolts f, and against the pressure of springs G, which are secured one at each side to the supports IOO B, B, and which bear at their free end portions against the lateral rods d.

Running entirelyaround the outside ofthe fender frame, with the exception of the top portion thereof and firmly secured thereto, is a strip II having a hollow or concave outer face. This strip forms a seat for a hollow rubber tube of considerable diameter which is cemented thereon, and which acts as a guard to prevent the rigid frame from striking the object with which the fender comes in contact. The forward rod d4 of the frame is of sinuous form having a forward bend at each end portion and intermediate backward and forward bends. The rubber at this portion preferably does not follow the outline of this rod,althoughit may do so, but is bent straight around. It will be apparent that when the fender strikes a persons limbs the rubber will yield into the backward bends of this rod,the forward bends thereof at each lateral portion preventing to a large extent any liability of the fender to throw the body off to one side.

All the rods composing the fender and gate frames are covered by a thick, yieldingr binding H, of .considerable width to prevent their injuring a person thrown against them, and which also holds the rubber more lirmly in place.

Hung in lugs I depending from the forward portion of the rods cl3 is a transverse roller J. As the fender comes in contact with any object, the force of the impact throws the fender back against the springs G, as above described, while the weight of the object as it is received by the platform brings the roller J into contact with the track or pavement, the supports B, B, being sufficiently yielding for the purpose.

The gate E', above described, renders the fender especially adapted to cars made up in trains as is common on cable and electric lines, since by throwing the gate wide open, as shown in Fig. 3, the opening E serves to admit the coupling between the cars, it being the intention to equip each end of each grip or motor car with one of the fenders. The fenders at the forward end of the train will have the gate closed to form a guard for the coupling bar, lantern, duc. A piece of rubber K, (shown only in Figs. 2 and 3) secured to the gate forms abuffer for the end of the coupling link. While this gate may be operated by the employ whose duty it is to couple and uncouple the cars, I prefer that it shall be operated by the griprnan, and for this purpose I attach thereto two cords K', K2, one to open and the other to close the gate. `These cords are designed to run back underneath the car and up through the floor thereof, or in other suitable manner to be within reach of the grip or motor man, suitable guides or bearings being provided.

L are openings through the fender and through the gate to admit the coupling chains of the cars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y l. In a car fender, a support adapted to be attached to a car frame, a rigid right-angled frame having pivotal and sliding connections with said support, springs interposed between said fender frame and support, and a yielding edge guard around said fender frame, all combined and arranged substantially as specified.

2. In a car fender,the bent supports adapted to be attached to a car frame, a rigid, rightangled fender frame having pivotal connections at its vertical portion with said supports and sliding connections therewith at its horizontal portion, springs against which said vertical portion bears, a iilling for said frame, a gate arranged to close a vertical opening in said vertical portion, a flexible edge guard around said frame, a flexible covering for the bars of said frame, and an under bearing for said horizontal portion, all arranged and combined substantially as specified.

3. In a car fender, a platform having a sinuons frame bar at its forward portion, anda yielding guard forward of said bar, substantially as specified.

4. In a car fender, the combination with the supporting bars, of a right-angled fender pivotally connected at its vertical portion to said bars, and slidably connected with the same at its horizontal or platform portion, springs against which said vertical portion bars, and a transverse roller underneath the platform portion, substantially as specified.

5. In a car fender, a vertical portion having a central vertical opening therein, and a semi-cylindrical or convex gate arranged to close said opening, substantially as specied.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of ntwo witnesses.

MATTHE NV A. CHERRY.

lVitnesses:

PHILIP C. MASI, GEORGE I-I. PARMELEE.

IOO 

